This Year, Seatbelt Enforcement Scheduled For April 14-22

SPRING SEATBELT ENFORCEMENT CAMPAIGN IN PERTH COUNTY

(PERTH COUNTY, ON) – The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) will be increasing enforcement throughout the province to ensure that motorists everywhere do their part in saving lives by buckling up. The increased enforcement is part of the Spring Seatbelt Campaign which is a partnership between the OPP, Ontario Ministry of Transportation and other road safety partners. The 2012 campaign runs from April 14th to 22nd.

In addition to seatbelts the Perth County OPP is focusing its efforts on occupant restraint systems, including child restraints, to raise awareness and protect children. A properly used child booster seat reduces a child’s risk of injury in a crash by as much as 75 percent.

During a child car seat blitz in Mitchell on April 11th conducted in cooperation with the Perth District Health Unit, Perth Care for Kids, the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, Stratford Police and the OPP, some sobering results were discovered. The voluntary checks, which were conducted as a lead-up to the Spring Seatbelt Campaign, revealed that out of the child car seats checked nearly a third were incorrectly used or incorrectly installed. Fourteen drivers received instruction and Ministry of Transportation “child car safety seat installation tips” to ensure their child seats would be properly installed. When used correctly, a booster seat provides 60 per cent more protection than a seatbelt alone. In a collision, children using seatbelts instead of booster seats are three and a half times more likely to suffer significant injury, and four times more likely to suffer a head injury.

Seatbelt non-compliance draws a fine of $240 and two demerit points. However, failing to buckle your seatbelt could also have much more serious consequences if someone is injured or killed in a motor vehicle collision. Transport Canada statistics reflect that more than 95% of Ontarians use occupant restraints; however West Region OPP officers have noticed a dramatic increase in fatal collisions to date in 2012.

In 2011, the Perth County OPP checked 12,265 vehicles during the Spring Seatbelt Campaign and laid a total of 69 charges for seatbelt violations. To date, this spring’s campaign has resulted in 21 seatbelt related tickets being issued.

“Perth County residents need to understand that the evidence is overwhelming, buckling up could save their life and the lives of their loved ones. It’s not just the $240 fine or demerit points, it’s about injury prevention and the saving of lives”. – S/Sgt Joel Skelding Perth County OPP.

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